Called File Locksmith, this new PowerToy will identify any processes that lock files and let you end them at will.
Sometimes Windows won’t let you delete a file, claiming that another program is using it…even if you don’t know which program it is. Fortunately, Microsoft will soon fix this with a PowerToy that can identify which program is locking your files.
New PowerToy: File Locksmith
As Neowin discovered, Microsoft is currently working on a PowerToy called “File Locksmith.” When you come across a file locked by a process, this PowerToy lets you know exactly what control it has over the file you want to edit.
You can see how it works on the File Locksmith GitHub page. Whenever a file is causing problems, you can right-click on it and select a new context menu called “What is using this file?”. This opens a window listing all the processes that have locked it, and gives you a button to close them if needed.
It’s still a work in progress; for example, right now, the window doesn’t respect your Windows dark mode setting. However, in terms of functionality, it has become a nifty tool.
It’s great to see Microsoft finally release the File Locksmith PowerToy. Windows users have long suffered from files being locked by unknown processes.
Usually, this is a good thing. Locking files prevents users from editing or deleting files that are currently in use. However, sometimes Windows won’t let you erase files, even though no programs appear to be open.
Beforehand, you need to use one of these methods to delete files that are being used by programs on Windows. But with this handy tool, you’ll have a quick and easy way to free your file, no matter what locked it.
some new toys to play with
This new File Locksmith PowerToy is a great solution to a problem that has plagued Windows users for years. While it’s working fine now, we’re looking forward to what it will look like when it’s finally finished.